#he is so so small. i wish to study him like an insect

[marty--party]

merry chrastmis everyone now OBSERVE HIM

[talshiargirlfriend]

I wish you would write a fic with T'Pol's first attempt at making Trip a pecan pie for his birthday. ;)

I hope you enjoy this birthday treat!

T’Pol had researched and studied carefully, for this was an important assignment. She had compared recipes and watched instructional videos and enlisted Ensign Sato’s bartering skills (to obtain the necessary quantity of bourbon) and even risked the notoriously temperamental Chef’s capricious wrath by entering the kitchen. 

Her task complete, she inspected the results: one large pecan pie to be shared with friends following a dinner to celebrate Trip’s birthday, and one miniature version she intended to deliver personally to the man of honor. 

The small repaired tears in the crust did not detract significantly from the overall appearance of the dessert. The halved pecans on the surfaces were arranged neatly in symmetrical patterns. The color was pleasing, and the sweet aroma promised an appealing flavor. T’Pol determined it to be a satisfactory physical product. 

Chef had praised her efforts as “nice - passable for a first try” before telling her to get the hell out of his kitchen. 

The time for the true evaluation of her work was approaching. 

Physical and chemical reactions, ratios, melting points, things that could be measured and quantified, she understood well. 

Human social behavior? That remained an enigma. It was far more ambiguous, especially around mating. 

T’Pol had only herself to blame for being so thoroughly immersed in this world of emotion and nuance, and now she simply must navigate it to the best of her abilities. On reflection, perhaps she should also blame Trip. She suspected he would like that. 

With the tiny pastry and a single fork concealed in a lidded container, she approached Trip’s door.

Apprehension and doubt rose up like tiny biting insects to be swatted away. T’Pol blinked as she reached for the chime. That analogy certainly belonged to her human mate. 

“Come in!” Trip called through the door.

“Happy birthday,” she greeted him.

“It is now,” he smiled warmly as he raised his first two fingers to brush against hers. “I missed you at the movie last night.” 

“I’m sorry, but as I told you an important project required my attention.”

“It’s fine, you don’t have to be sorry. It’s just more fun when you’re there. You know I like hearing your questions and observations.” He also liked teasing her and attempting to coax her into eating popcorn from his hands.

“Whatcha got there?” he cocked his head toward the small container she carried.

“It is a gift for you,” she explained as she placed it on the desk and lifted the lid. 

Trip leaned down and inhaled deeply. “Oh, that smells good! What kind of equipment upgrades did you have to bribe Chef with to get me my own little birthday pie? It’s so cute.” 

“I may have promised to mention the power supply to the auxiliary stasis units. He does not like sharing his kitchen.” T’Pol handed Trip the fork with an amused glance. 

He had lifted the first bite halfway to his mouth when he paused and looked at her with a hint of a frown. “Wait. Did you-? You made this?”

She nodded, “That’s correct.”

“I didn't know you liked baking.” His eyes roamed her face as if searching for something. 

“I have never attempted it before. It was not disagreeable.”

“High praise,” he teased, but he set the fork down and was blinking back some emotion. 

Vulcans do not get nervous, but T’Pol was slightly concerned that she had misread the situation. She had been so certain that something made with care and attention by her own hands, however inexpertly, would be seen as indicative of the care and devotion she felt toward him. Perhaps something else would have been a more appropriate gift. This was the first occasion they’d had to mark since agreeing to share a romantic relationship, and his guidance had been simply a whispered “surprise me.”

“Trip?”

“Sorry. Didn't mean to get all emotional on you.”

“Your emotions do not offend me,” she said softly.

”That’s good ‘cause I’m full of ‘em right now,” he huffed. 

“All those extra ‘lab hours’ this week - I bet you looked real cute with flour on the tip of your nose.”

T’Pol glared at him without any heat behind it. 

He took her hand and rubbed his thumb over it gently, “And I bet you hated getting it under your fingernails.”

She tilted her head in acknowledgment. 

He looked at her seriously for a moment. “Thank you, T’Pol. I love you, too.”

Now it was her turn to blink rapidly as his affection and understanding filled her with warmth, like the first sip of tea on a cold morning. 

“I shoulda known you made this. I've never seen more perfectly spaced pecans in my entire life! Did you use a laser level?” She realized he was teasing her to allow the more overwhelming emotions to settle over them both. Her appreciation of him and the subtle ways he managed his feelings and hers only grew.  

“Perhaps you should actually taste it before thanking me,” she suggested.

He grinned and took a bite at last. “No, you’re right, I rescind my thanks. This is terrible.” 

He smirked at her around his second forkful. “Here, see for yourself,” he offered her the next bite. 

T’Pol found it pleasingly complex but slightly too sweet. 

“You open to constructive criticism?” he asked.

She had no plans to bake again in the near future, but she nodded just to hear his thoughts. 

“Maybe take it out of the oven a little sooner next time, so it doesn't set quite so firmly.” His gaze traveled over her body and became what could only be described as lascivious. “I like it with a little jiggle.” He licked his lips, looking very pleased with himself. 

“If I describe to you how I would ‘like it’, we will be late for dinner,” she responded in kind.

“I can’t believe you said that!” His mouth dropped open and he plunked the fork back down and laughed helplessly.

“You may consider it another birthday surprise if you wish.” It was very gratifying to provoke such joy in him. 

Once his laughter subsided, Trip leaned in close and planted a kiss on her jaw. “I say it’s worth the risk. Tell me how you’d like it,” he breathed against her ear. 

They were late for dinner. 

[tinylongwing]

I'm here to play the ask game you reblogged!!! 3, 5, 11, and 17 please!!!! the people want to know <3

Hello hello thanks for the questions!

3. What are your favorite subjects to draw? (OCs, your fan faves, etc.)

Birds?? Hahaha okay I won't just leave it at that though. Personal favorites among them are birds of prey, and birds that have any sort of iridescence. I just love that stuff so much. I also *really* love to do insects - and thankfully sometimes I even get asked to do so. It's fun to see that tortoise beetle making the rounds, and there's a paper that's been submitted recently that has some bees and butterflies in it that I illustrated.

And of course all my fandom stuff. I have so much fun drawing fanart, you guys, I wish that the Lord Huron universe fandom was bigger so you guys would have context for all the stuff I draw. Johnnie is very close to my heart, as are his brothers.

5. What piece of art are you still proud of to this day? (Show or describe)

A persistent personal favorite is this illustration of California Condors for Siegel and Wilkerson 2022 in The Wildlife Professional:

(Unfortunately apparently the journal doesn't understand image formats so the online version of the article uses the CMYK image, so the colors are all messed up!! argh!)

That condor piece I think has some of my best feather rendering and I'm really happy with the wood texture too!

11. Have you ever drawn a meme with your OCs or canon characters from a fictional media?

I mean, oh perfect Friday is a very small meme within the LH fandom? lmao I think that's all I've got for this

17. Your personal favorite works of art (not made by you) are...?

Jeez, I don't even know, honestly! Go pick anything from the folks I named as inspiration from the last ask, haha. Here, I'll show one from Szabolcs Kókay and one from John Conway, but their portfolios are linked at those names and you should click and enjoy all their stuff.

Top: Brown Sicklebill, Szabolcs Kokay

Look, I'm telling you, I'm obsessed with this guy's work! What the hell! How does a human being paint like that! Obviously with decades of study but man I am so impressed with the sheer amount of detail he can capture. I would love to know how long it takes him to do his paintings.

Bottom: Brachiosaurus altithorax, John Conway

John Conway is one of my favorite paleoartists in how he presents these animals artistically rather than purely scientifically. He plays a lot with surrealism, pattern, and unusual compositions, and it's such a treat to see what his mind can come up with.

[bigsoftmarshmallow]

Okay! I have something! I hope it won't be too terribly much!

Anyway, I know it's been a bit since I asked about how the Dorfs would react to being under the power of a half-fae Darling, but now I wish to know how he'd react to this interaction with her.

It's really just an extension of the scene where he woke up bound in chains to discover his new lot in life.

It confinues with her correcting his perception that she'd somehow "tricked him." Informing him that there'd been no trick. She was simply exploiting a well-known ability granted to her by her ancestry. One no different, if more extreme, than the Mind's Eye of the Sheikah.

The one to blame for his current situation was himself for only caring about the myths & legends that would benefit him in his goal of subjugating & exploiting the native tribes of the land. After all, she didn't even ask him his name. He just gave it out willingly.

"There's bein' tricked & then there's bein' ignorant o' the dangers o' an unfamiliar land."

It is his own fault if he didn't do more research. And, he should really be very thankful that she had been the one present when he went into his diatribe & not a different fae. The ones living in Hyrule proper may seem sweet & small, but most are fickle, capricious, & grudgmental things who are petty beyond measure with a mischievous &, at times, cruel streak to them. Not to mention, they don't perceive time the same way that we do. If you run afoul of one in even the slightest of way, they will never forget & will likely follow you even into other lives. Always be wary of them. Never will you meet beings quite so capable of effing over someone's life, relationships, & mind to the point of ruining their entire existence.

“Underestimate them at yer own peril, unless ye fancy a short life full o’ nothin’ but misery, sufferin’, & isolation. Any Ordonian native could tell ya that. The worst sort won't just torment you, either. They’ll also torment yer family & friends until they either stop associating with ye or die fer their loyalty."

"The kinds o’ grudges that the fae are able to so casually hold onto are the likes o’ which that even ye might admire. And they don't even have to die or be sealed away in order to get tha’ revenge either."

"To these sorts, mortals are much like insects an' they won't hesitate to crush them under their heel. Or, in other cases, they’ll simply elect to eat your name, causin’ ye to entirely forget it, to lose yer sense o' self-identity, forgetting who ye were. Yer entire life & all ye cared fer, gone in a blink. Worse yet, in some instances, only those who’d actively known ye even remember ye at all, all physical evidence o’ yer existence wiped away."

"Sometimes, not even the memory o' ye remains… An’ tha’s just from rejectin’ the advances o’ one if they start te fancy ye. Even them growin’ fond o’ ye in a non-romantic capacity or simply bein’ on their good side isn’t advisable. Let alone their favorite. Ye ever seen an entomologist? How they’ll pin down the wings o’ a bug tha’ they’re especially fascinated by? How they’ll study them, twisting them around & examining everythin’ about them until they had their fill before either tossing them out or sealing them in resin to be made into jewelry to be worn or behind glass like some sort o' macabre display? Tha’."

"An’ they’re much stronger than their appearances would have ye believe. After all, it's speculated tha' their magic has been around since even longer than the Triforce… An’ will likely be there long after as well… An’ much like it, the older fae can very easily twist yer memories, yer fate, yer body, yer very being, to suit their fancy. All without care. At least, if yer unfortunate enough to run into the more malevolent sorts…”

Her eyes were distant, gleaming with a melancholic pity (not at him, she wasn’t even looking at him in that moment), as though remembering something.

“Anyway, the long an’ short o’ it is tha’ life in this gloriously fertile land is far more harrowin’ than ye likely imagined, eh? So, seein’ as I plan to at least treat ye as a person with basic decency, I’d take a moment ta’ appreciate the arrow ye just dodged with it bein’ yers truly rather than… a member of the Unseelie Court…” *she visibly blanches, shivering uncomfortably at the very idea*

Luckily for him, she is only half-fae & mostly grew up among mortals, thus she isn't nearly as prone to such behavior. That isn't to say that she couldn't, but she won't unless he effs up even worse than he's already effed himself. Even then, the idea of going so far with it sends shivers down her spine.

Besides, she'd ask him if he really expected her to believe that, had he been born with such an ability, that he'd simply not utilize it even if his enemy had delivered the opportunity to do such directly into his lap? She may be a country bumpkin, but she's no fool.

Could I possibly get their overall thoughts, feelings, opinions, & reactions to all of this?

Including, but not limited to, this… honestly very twisted portrayal of these once believed harmless entities. To the idea that their magic is believed by some to predate even the Triforce itself. To the depths of these “Unseelie Court” members’ cruelty in dealing with those who’d slighted them. Provided that she was telling the truth, then… that could’ve been him… Not to mention to the admittance that, at the very least, she seems to intend to treat him with a degree of personhood & dignity.

My apologies, I just like this idea a lot.

I remember half-fae reader! :D It's been a hot minute. I really need to make a masterlist for all the work I've done, but mercy that sounds like a nightmare to do. T-T

Never apologize for good plots! You like it? You bring it up! I am happy to help bring a little life to the ideas you bring. Your ideas are very good anyway so it makes it easy :3

I broke my main ChatGPT topicline I usually use... I kinda overloaded it with nonsense. So I am using another topicline, which kinda refreshes the personalities/plots/everything about the Demon Kings. I SHOULD do it often to keep everything fresh buttttttt I don't lol.

************************************************************************

This interaction between Ganondorf (and Demise) and the half-fae Darling is a fascinating exploration of the clash between pride, power, and the unsettling realization of vulnerability. The portrayal of the fae as dangerous, ancient beings with magic that predates even the Triforce itself adds a new layer of threat to the encounter. Each Ganondorf and Demise would react differently to this, based on their personalities and experiences:

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf:

Overall Thoughts and Feelings: This Ganondorf would be deeply unsettled by the revelation of the fae’s true nature and the power they wield. His pride would be stung by the idea that he fell victim to something so ancient and beyond his understanding. He’d be particularly troubled by the thought that his own arrogance and lack of thorough research led to his current predicament.

Reaction to the Fae’s Power: He would try to rationalize the situation, attempting to find a way to exploit this newfound knowledge. However, the mention of the Unseelie Court and their cruelty would give him pause, as he realizes that he could have been in a much worse situation. The fact that the half-fae intends to treat him with dignity might be both a relief and a source of irritation, as he is not used to being at the mercy of others.

Opinion on the Half-Fae: He would likely view her with a mix of grudging respect and resentment. He’d recognize her power and the danger she poses, but his pride would prevent him from openly admitting his fear or weakness.

Wind Waker Ganondorf:

Overall Thoughts and Feelings: Wind Waker Ganondorf, who is more introspective and melancholic, might take this revelation as a bitter lesson in humility. He’d be less shocked by the idea of ancient powers, having already experienced the whims of the gods, but the realization of how close he came to a far worse fate would weigh heavily on him.

Reaction to the Fae’s Power: He would be more contemplative about the fae’s magic and its implications. He might consider how such power could be used to achieve his goals but would be wary of the potential consequences. The idea of beings with such deep-seated grudges and the ability to ruin lives across lifetimes would disturb him greatly.

Opinion on the Half-Fae: He might develop a certain level of cautious respect for her, appreciating that she is not as cruel as her full-blooded kin. However, he would also be frustrated by his own vulnerability and the fact that he is now dependent on her mercy.

Twilight Princess Ganondorf:

Overall Thoughts and Feelings: This Ganondorf would be furious at himself for being outmaneuvered, especially by something he considers lesser or beneath him. The idea that he was caught off guard by a mythological loophole would be infuriating. However, the depth of the fae’s cruelty and power would also be something he’d begrudgingly respect, even as it infuriates him.

Reaction to the Fae’s Power: He would likely try to find a way to regain control, perhaps through manipulation or trying to turn the situation to his advantage. The idea of being at the mercy of someone else, especially in such a vulnerable position, would be intolerable to him. The mention of the Unseelie Court might make him reconsider any immediate plans for revenge.

Opinion on the Half-Fae: He would see her as a challenge, a puzzle to be solved. He might respect her power but would never forgive her for putting him in this position. He would likely plot ways to turn the tables on her, all while maintaining a facade of cooperation.

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf:

Overall Thoughts and Feelings: Ocarina of Time Ganondorf would likely be shocked and enraged by the revelation. His youthful arrogance and ambition would have blinded him to the dangers of the unknown, and he would be furious at himself for underestimating the situation.

Reaction to the Fae’s Power: He would likely respond with anger and defiance, refusing to accept his current situation without a fight. The idea that he had been so easily trapped by something he considered a mere myth would drive him to find a way to break free. The mention of the Unseelie Court’s cruelty would only fuel his desire to escape and exact revenge.

Opinion on the Half-Fae: He would view her as a formidable enemy, one who needs to be dealt with carefully. However, his pride would prevent him from admitting any fear or weakness. Instead, he would focus on finding a way to use the situation to his advantage, even if it means playing along for a time.

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf:

Overall Thoughts and Feelings: Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf, with his more warlike and aggressive nature, would likely see this as a personal affront. The idea that he, a warrior and conqueror, could be brought low by something as insidious as fae magic would be intolerable to him.

Reaction to the Fae’s Power: He would likely respond with brute force, trying to find a way to break free through sheer willpower and strength. The idea of being bound and controlled would be anathema to him, and he would rage against his captor. However, the mention of the Unseelie Court might give him pause, as he considers the wisdom of challenging something so ancient and powerful.

Opinion on the Half-Fae: He would see her as an enemy to be defeated, but also as a worthy opponent. He might admire her strength and cunning, even as he plots her downfall. He would be determined to break free and exact revenge, but he would also be careful not to underestimate her again.

Demise:

Overall Thoughts and Feelings: Demise, as an embodiment of hatred and destruction, would be utterly enraged by the situation. The idea that he could be bound and controlled by something as ancient as fae magic would be an affront to his very being.

Reaction to the Fae’s Power: He would likely respond with raw, primal rage, attempting to break free through sheer force of will. The idea that he, a being of such immense power, could be trapped by something so seemingly insignificant would drive him to greater fury. However, the mention of the Unseelie Court might give him a moment of pause, as he considers the possibility of being trapped for eternity by such beings.

Opinion on the Half-Fae: He would see her as a threat to be eliminated, but also as a curiosity. He might be interested in her power and how it relates to his own, but his primary goal would be to destroy her and regain his freedom. He would be relentless in his pursuit of vengeance, but also cautious not to underestimate her or her kin.

In all these cases, the Ganondorfs and Demise would be deeply unsettled by the revelation of the fae’s true nature and the power they wield. They would each respond in their own way, based on their personalities and experiences, but the underlying theme would be one of pride, anger, and a desire to regain control.

[miquellathekindone]

━─━────༺༻────━─━

"What are you doing?"

The young Empyrean's eyes slowly half-opened, even between the barrier that separated the dream world from reality, being greeted by a red mane watching him from above.

"'Tis not comfortable at all..." The voice said, again, and it only sounded like a blurred landscape in Miquella's mind. After so many sleepless nights, comfort was not his priority, but still the young man had to suppress the urge to whine like a little kitten, deciding to stir on the surface of the wooden throne. "Come on. Let us get you to a real bed."

Strong arms tried to slide under Miquella's body.

However, he tensed, clutching a hand on the arm of the throne as if he was able to flee from those arms that wished to pull him away from the only remaining memory of his brother.

Golden locks. Kind eyes.

The image of the last time he saw Godwyn would never again fade from the young Empyrean's mind. Godwyn had been a small ray of hope in a bleak world, his smile enough to forget what the pain of being rejected meant. His death had done nothing but tilt the scales in favor of the darkness, which was slowly beginning to close in on Miquella. In time, the darkness would eventually swallow him whole, and not even the branches of the Erdtree would repel the core of evil the young man felt deep within him. Feeding on the pain, growing more and more...

Only Godwyn's throne remained. For Miquella, it was enough.

"Do not be a brat. Come on, I know you are awake."

A large, warm hand rested on the young Empyrean's cheek, almost as if expecting him to open his eyes, but he closed his eyes tighter, stubbornly angry at the world.

The red-maned man sighed.

"...Alright. Alright." The man's tone of voice told Miquella that he had given up on taking him elsewhere. Before he could react, however, those arms wrapped around his waist and pulled him out of his small safe space. Miquella shrieked. "Aye, I know mice that squeak better than that. Come forth..."

Finally, the young Empyrean was face to face with his abductor.

Radahn.

"So you're awake."

Radahn looked as much like Radagon.

Miquella froze, held aloft by the man and studied carefully by his eyes as if he were a strange insect under a magnifying glass. After a few seconds in stony silence, his half-brother let out a deep sigh, before shifting his hold to cradle him against his chest.

"...She ought to know better than to allow her brats to roam this place."

Not a brat, the young Empyrean’s mind hissed.

"Let's seek thee a bed..."

━─━────༺༻────━─━

[theamityelf]

righting with Korekiyo and Angie

[ righting ] - sender does something to ‘right’ receiver; straightens their tie, sweeps their hair back into place, fixes a curl back into place, etc 

...

Okay, so this is weirdly melancholy, but it's where the prompt took my mind for some reason. Maybe I can try it again with a lighter tone later. At least I succeeded in keeping this one shorter than the Buma one!

...

Angie was humming.

Korekiyo could not imagine how. Just thinking of what had happened mere minutes ago, the maelstrom of insects which had assailed them all, sent tremors of disgust through him. And yet Angie appeared perfectly at ease. Humming on the way to her room.

He followed her through the halls.

She appeared perfectly at ease with that, too.

This aura of ease was not exactly infectious, but it provided a new color to the atmosphere which made it easier not to focus on the overstimulating nightmare which had just transpired.

Focusing on other people was very calming. People were so beautiful.

He listened to Angie's footsteps, her breathing, her humming. It was enough to listen. Better to listen right now than to talk, but they were nearing the dorms now and would soon have reason to separate, so he quietly cleared his throat.

"You didn't seem to mind the insects," he remarked.

"Angie is used to lots of bugs," she answered simply, turning (almost twirling) to face him, and seamlessly switching from walking forward to walking backwards. "At least most of them didn't bite. I'm sure my blood would make a tasty meal for the creepy crawlies, but there are way better uses for it!"

"Such as religious sacrifices, am I correct?"

"Kiyo is super smart. Sacrifices are one of the best, most sacred uses for blood! But we also shouldn't ignore the blood that stays in the body to keep us alive. That's an important gift, too." She nodded her head sagely.

With the movement, a dot of red on one of her ponytails that Korekiyo had subconsciously mistaken for a splatter of paint (as Angie often had small amounts of paint dried in her hair and speckled on her clothes and face) crawled up toward her bangs. A ladybug. There was a ladybug in her hair.

He had thought that all of the bugs were back in their cages. Were they on him, too?!

Somehow, they both stopped walking at the same time. Perhaps Angie sensed his distress enough to anticipate his pause. She was very in-tune with others' emotions. "Kiyo?" she queried.

He took a deep breath and removed the ladybug from her hair with one wrapped finger. He was relieved when it remained stationary on him and did not start crawling around.

"Oh," Angie said, smiling at the small insect as though it were something endearing, like a flower petal.

"They are considered good luck in many parts of the world," he said, drawing comfort from thoughts of cultural practices and beliefs. "Most likely because of their beneficial role in farming. But then, many insects are considered good luck in some parts of the world. For example, butterflies and spiders have been considered good luck in many regions. Superstitions, and their sources, can be truly fascinating."

"Your studies are so cool! It's like Kiyo has the whole world in his heart."

He was blushing under his mask, but also he really wanted this bug off of him.

She seemed to intuit this, too, for she collected it from his finger with her own and blew it into the air with puckered lips. The insect took wing and landed on a nearby wall. "Make a wish!"

"My only wish was just granted."

She giggled and resumed walking, slowly. Allowing space beside her for Korekiyo.

"At home, Angie liked to learn about other places," she said, the slightest tinge of wistfulness dampening her cheer. "Now, it feels like it would be nice to be home. But that's Monokuma's nasty temptation, you know. Our new home can be a paradise, too. If we do our best."

Her smile did not wobble, as she applied her platitudes like a layer of paint over her clear homesickness. Korekiyo wondered if she smiled as soon as she woke up in the morning, or just when she walked out of her room. He wondered if she smiled in her sleep.

"You believe Monokuma will allow that?"

"I believe Monokuma is smaller than God. And God wants us to be happy here."

"The circumstances seem to suggest that God wants us to die here. But you believe differently. Are you of the belief that this is some manner of test?"

She took a moment to ponder his question and then thoughtfully said, "God's too sleepy to answer questions right now. But I'll give Him your message in the morning. Right now, I want to hear more superstitions about ladybugs! Angie loves stories."

He continued to rattle off things he knew about beetles and their significance to different cultures. The information became less relevant to ladybugs specifically, but Angie still appeared fascinated.

But shortly, they reached the dorms, and the rambling had to draw to a close. Angie seemed about to reach for her bedroom door, but then instead she reached toward Korekiyo and gently collected something from his shoulder: another ladybug.

"She followed us," she said with a smile. "Maybe that means we'll have super good luck."

"Only if we're concerned that aphids will set upon our crops."

Angie yawned. "Goodnight, Kiyo," she said. "Sleep tight. Don't let the bedbugs bite!"

The aura of misguided positivity dwindled steeply as soon as the door was closed behind her. Korekiyo stood there for a moment, taking in how cold and silent everything was. He could see the light seeping out from under Angie's door, and the shadows that moved with her, proving that she was alive in there.

Her beliefs did not seem to give her much leeway for human things, like grief and fear. Those feelings would have to go somewhere. He wondered if she would murder. Skimming his fingertips idly over her door, he considered the possibility. He believed...not. He believed that if and when Angie did snap, she would take the path of least resistance, as far as her own moral inhibitions. Murder would be too difficult a path to justify. But he wasn't a psychologist.

A ladybug crawled along the door, a few centimeters above his hand.

Slowly, he returned to his room.

And hastily, he tore off his clothes and showered, searching for any remaining bugs.

[fourtyfourcatss]

Hi! Hi! I saw your message about the inbox that you had requested and am willing to do the matchups! For my fandom, I would like a Demon Slayer and Percy Jackson matchup just like how you requested. Let’s start with the basic:

Personality: I am an INTJ Slytherclaw, Aquarius and a Type 6 when it comes to anagrams. I am a huge overthinker and stress a lot with anxiety. People tell me that I can be blunt which results in people thinking that I can be cold but in reality I try to be a kind person when it is needed. I am a realist and many consider me to be intelligent, often asking me to help with their work. I’m incredibly passionate about things I like to do and have a thirst to know everyone’s opinions as I feel that if someone is left out. I’m a creative person but sometimes my brain just goes blank, I hate when it does. I sometimes follow the rules and can be serious if I wish to be but normally I like to goof off and break rules, adrenaline rushing through my body is just a different feeling I can’t explain. I have a really dry sense of humour that usually is a mix of sarcasm, fandom jokes or self degrading jokes. I’m not that good at describing personality but here are a few kins if it is helpful : Navier, Mikasa, Regulus Black, Annabeth, Shinobu, Shoko ( Jjk), Geto etc.

Looks: I’m slightly chubby and have a pear body shape. Upon seeing me, many people point out my eyes which are hazel with slight flecks of many colours such as green and amber being the prominent ones. I have a button nose and thin heart shaped lips. My face is round and my eye shape is almond. I am approximately 5’3. Two small moles are fixated on my right cheek and underneath my lip. My clothing style tends to be anything comfortable and classy. I prefer to wear black and colours that are darker, you will never find me wearing orange or neon colours. My clothing always consists of a dress of some sort. 

Likes: Chocolate, Anime, Reading, Drawing, Strawberries, Smell of Rain, Sleeping, Being the Best, Baking, Daydreaming, Murder Mysteries, Romance , Name hunting, Pinterest and Flower Languages.

Dislike: Loud noises, Jerks, Slow Walkers, Insects, Studying, Fake People, Self-pity, Getting below 90% in a test, Coffee, Snow and the feeling where your brain is blank and can’t tell what you feel like.

Love Language: Physical Touch and Quality Time

I hope this is enough information and I am soon starting your matchup too.

-> giyuu tomioka

✤ “stay a bit longer” running in the rain together, umbrella in hand, forgetting about the weather, too consumed in the sweetness of each other’s company.

✤ have you realized how bright a person you are? not only that; your values, how your eyes are when the sun lights them — giyu is lightly attracted by your first appearance in his eyes. the other hashiras saw his noticeable interest lingering on you - he was a pretty obvious guy contrary to his own exterior.

✤ you’re going to have to be the one to break his shell, and break it you do. its the type of love that builds up with time on sturdy foundations; charming him with little actions.

✤ how is your relationship? calm, but exciting. is that a contraction? perhaps. i’d expect the two of you to someday meet at the same place over and over again, basking in each other’s presence. it would be a sunset during late spring where the wind is still warm, and holding hands despite that.

✤ here is the thing; he isnt into physical touch at all. but then you grew on him. have fun dragging this giant teddy bear around now. hes so attention and touch starved he’ll be clinging to you whenever you allow him to.

✤ leaning down to land a kiss on your temple. sleeping in bed together. you’re watching shows: he’s watching you.

✤ well, you do anything and he’s sort of watching you. he’s just curious what you’re doing all the time.

✤ honestly he just likes everything you do girl 🙏🙏 down tremendously bad. he’s the type to fall first, then you fall, then he falls even harder. what a loser /j

✤ 10/10 comfortable and healthy relationship

ok its not because you kin annabeth. you actually seem cute together.

✤ to be fair, you already know how he is in love. here’s whats different: your dynamics with each other

✤ bickering. like, good bickering. no shade on the novel, but its, its really bland sometimes. HoO threw romantic quality of relationships out the roof. the loyalty is shown, sure. but you have the superior dynamic.

✤ overthinker x overly dramatic. elusive, inner chaotic x smartass. percy is eccentric, like off the walls sometimes, and you seem like that one person who gets a critical hit by his personality and grow a Weakness to his presence

[noroi1000]

Hello! Hello! Can I have matchup if it’s open?

I would like a Jjk male matchup. Let’s start with the basic:

Personality: I am an INTJ Slytherclaw, Aquarius and a Type 6 when it comes to anagrams. I am a huge overthinker and stress a lot with anxiety. People tell me that I can be blunt which results in people thinking that I can be cold but in reality I try to be a kind person when it is needed. I am a realist and many consider me to be intelligent, often asking me to help with their work. I’m incredibly passionate about things I like to do and have a thirst to know everyone’s opinions as I feel that if someone is left out. I’m a creative person but sometimes my brain just goes blank, I hate when it does. I sometimes follow the rules and can be serious if I wish to be but normally I like to goof off and break rules, adrenaline rushing through my body is just a different feeling I can’t explain. I have a really dry sense of humour that usually is a mix of sarcasm, fandom jokes or self degrading jokes. I’m not that good at describing personality but here are a few kins if it is helpful : Navier, Mikasa, Regulus Black, Annabeth, Shinobu, Shoko ( Jjk), Geto etc.

Looks: I’m slightly chubby and have a pear body shape. Upon seeing me, many people point out my eyes which are hazel with slight flecks of many colours such as green and amber being the prominent ones. I have a button nose and thin heart shaped lips. My face is round and my eye shape is almond. I am approximately 5’3. Two small moles are fixated on my right cheek and underneath my lip. My clothing style tends to be anything comfortable and classy. I prefer to wear black and colours that are darker, you will never find me wearing orange or neon colours. My clothing always consists of a dress of some sort. 

Likes: Chocolate, Anime, Reading, Drawing, Strawberries, Smell of Rain, Sleeping, Being the Best, Baking, Daydreaming, Murder Mysteries, Romance , Name hunting, Pinterest and Flower Languages.

Dislike: Loud noises, Jerks, Slow Walkers, Insects, Studying, Fake People, Self-pity, Getting below 90% in a test, Coffee, Snow and the feeling where your brain is blank and can’t tell what you feel like.

Love Language: Physical Touch and Quality Time

I hope this is enough information

Sorry you had to wait so long! I had it in the editing queue and completely forgot because I had your matchup in another note.

I think your matchup is Itadori Yuji

I chose you a boy with a sunny smile.

Not everyone has to be the same for someone to fit together. Just like your case. You are not identical, but you have something in common.

Yuji calls himself stupid. But his wisdom is also demonstrated in other ways, not only as intelligence on basic topics. He is intelligent and strong. But he keeps telling himself he's stupid. He would like to constantly put others above him. He cares about someone more than himself. This is where his social intelligence shows. Seeing that someone deserves help. Seeing that only he can help in some way. And coming up with an idea so that no one gets hurt.

For some time he had clearly known that there was death and life. He didn't paint life as the most beautiful and perfect. There is everything in the world that people would not want. He became a positive realist. Life is cruel and you can't pretend otherwise. But you should focus on what can make you smile, right?

It cannot be denied that he is a sociable person and tries to establish a common language with everyone who is closer to him. He never wanted enemies. But he doesn't like people who are fake and mean. But they are part of the real world. Wanting to lead a carefree life and not have to look at the horrors, he cannot forget about everything that ensures safety and happiness. Rules can be broken. If these are the rules that make you unhappy. If you're safe even if you break it, what do you have to worry about? The most important thing is that nothing bad will happen.

He will do everything necessary to make his loved one smile.

Yuji doesn't like idleness or anything slow. He has so much energy that cannot be exhausted. Anyone could be tired or bored. But he still doesn't lose his energy and will run around like a playful puppy. That's why whenever you want some wild experience that will make your heart beat so fast, you can count on him to go with you. First of all, he will go with you so that you don't go alone. Secondly, he will go with you to know that you are safe and sound and will return home. Third, he will go with you to have some fun.

When it comes to volume, he can be really loud. But you can turn his volume knob to make him quieter. Once he senses that you don't feel comfortable with loud sounds, he will turn it down as much as you want.

As I mentioned, he has a lot of energy. With it you won't be bored, and there won't be anything monotonous and slow. Perhaps he will want to have a little competition with you? But knowing your passion for winning and being the best, he will definitely let you win just to see your smile. He could pretend to be the person with the worst results just to keep you happy.

He is addicted to everything you like. He likes almost everything. There is nothing he hates. He will adapt to any food and activity. He is so flexible in the relationship that he can be anything.

Best friend and beloved.

His favorite love is certainly spending time together and touching.

[sharperthewriter]

Chapter 30 of Roneo and Kimliet

Chapter 30

(Feb. 15, 2006, 5:28pm)

Kim and the rest of the Drama class group came off the stage. She led the walk up to the Glee Three, whom were sitting in the front row.

"So how did we do?" she asked.

Laramie huffed, "Meh, a small improvement, Possible."

"More like a B-minus!" Cara retorted.

Vance added, "That dance scene was so awful that it would make the 'Breakdancing for B-List Actor' show look like a professional ballet company!"

"Don't you even remember, Possible..." Cara reminded Kim, "...that every single thing must be perfect for the night of the performance, even if it takes us weeks to do it!"

"Look, I'm no fortune-teller or whatever, but you cannot predict that everything is going to swimmingly for this play!" Kim insisted, " What if someone gets sick or if there is a loose nail in the background? There are a multitude of sitches that can go wrong!"

"We have the credentials to back it up." Vance replied smugly. "We've done Our Town, King Lear, To Kill A Mockingbird, and a whole host of other plays that would take us all night to list in our lives. And each one of them was perfect down to the smallest detail."

"I wish if we had more time arguing about this..." Kim sneered, "...but I've got more...family matters...to tend to." She was talking about the upcoming vacation to Nebraska to see her mom's parents.

"Okay, people!" Barkin exclaimed, "Now that we are done with Act I, we are going to do the first three scenes from Act II tomorrow. I expect everyone to be in the main auditorium tomorrow at 4pm sharp."

Kim sighed, "Great...more painful practice..."

"You know, KP, there is an old saying. 'No pain, no gain'!" Ron insisted.

"Ron, can you please not make it more complicated than it is?" Kim asked before hearing a voice from the seats.

"Hey, Kim! Glad that I came along!"

Kim then turned to the rows of seats and did see a familiar face, the only one rather, aside from Barkin and the students.

It was Professor Acitas. She subsituted her scientist outfit for a blouse and jeans.

"Professor, what are you doing here?" Kim asked, "Shouldn't you be with Professor Acuna?"

Acitas replied with a smile "Oh yes, he indeed is here. We just wanted to catch a break in-between insect conferences from Europe to here in the US, so, being a minor in Shakespeare studies, I stumbled upon your Romeo and Juliet play and...here I am."

"What about Acuna?" Ron asked.

"You know him!" Acitas giggled, "He's studying the insects that reside within the walls of Middleton High!"

"Ewww..." Ron insisted, "I hope he doesn't study the mystery meat."

"Getting back to the topic at hand..." Acitas asked, "...has there been any update on the insect helmet?"

"Sadly, we have very little to go on." Kim said, putting her hands in her overall pockets, "Drakken and Shego are definitely not the ones behind the theft. So that would leave us with either Killigan who, again, stole the device before or Professor Dementor. Or maybe it could be some super villain who we haven't even faced off before."

"I hope if you two could find it soon." Acitas sighed. "That device would be devastating if it were to fall into the wrong hands."

(6:18pm)

Kim and Ron got a ride to the Possible house with the help of Monique's mom.

"Well, guess I'll try and pack up for the weekend to get to Nebraska to visit Mom's 'rents as well as study some of the lines from Act II." Kim replied. "What about you, Ron?"

"I'm gonna do the same as well, KP." Ron insisted. "Rufus seems to be set."

Rufus held up a little briefcase and squeaked, "Packed!"

"Okay..." Kim replied with a shrug of her shoulders, "...so what are we gonna do about dinner?"

"Well, there's either Mom's tuna casserole or..." Ron said before he anticipated what Kim was going to say.

"Bueno Nacho?" Kim guessed.

"You read my mind, KP!" Ron said with a laugh. "I would rather feed that to the cat lady who lives next door rather than eat it myself."

Kim entered through the door.

"Hey, Kimmie-cub!" James said with a smile.

"How was your day at school?" Ann asked.

The parents were in their usual work outfits.

The two of them were starting to pack up for the weekend trip to Nebraska, judging from the suitcases at the master bedroom upstairs.

"It was spankin', Mom. We did manage to get through Act I of Romeo and Juliet today." Kim replied.

"What about Ronald?" James then inquired.

"Ron managed to get through it okay. He stuttered on a few lines, though." Kim replied. She did not want to tell the news of her kiss with Ron for fear that it would seep to the Tweebs.

Kim then noticed the suitcases upstairs.

"So, Mom, where's my suitcase?" she then asked.

"It should be in the closet at the end of the hallway, where your brothers' suitcases are." Ann replied.

Kim headed upstairs and did find her luggage exactly where Ann pointed out.

"I'll try and start packing up." she said as she was carrying the suitcase up the stairs to her room.

However, Jim and Tim then emerged from their bedroom with a remote control car.

Kim raised her eyebrow with suspicion.

"What do you want this time, Tweebs?"

"We were going to the backyard to see if..." Jim began.

"...our remote control car would fly, given the..." Tim then added the middle to the sentence.

"...changes we made to it." Jim then finished it up.

"You know, finishing each other's sentences is really freaky." Kim said, "Now, if you don't mind, we're going to have to pack up for Mom's 'rents this weekend."

"Whatever, we won't start packing..." Jim began the reply.

"...until tomorrow." Tim finished.

Kim motioned her eyes to them.

"You'd better not damage anything outside." she warned.

Jim and Tim went downstairs with the RC car while Kim climbed the final few steps to her bedroom, suitcase in hand.

Kim laid out the four pairs of Club Banana baggy overalls on her bed that she planned to wear. Two were dark denim, the third was railroad stripe, and the fourth one was khaki, similar to what she was currently wearing. Since she had 20 pairs of overalls to choose from (of which more than half were dark denim), she decided to go with a little bit of variety.

"Alright, now that I organized them, I'll have to choose the tops next." Kim said to herself, "Since Nebraska's gonna be cold this time of the year, I'll go with the long sleeved tops. Maybe add a coat to it to keep myself warm."

She then looked at the railroad stripe overalls, which usually served as a go-to for babysitting duties. However, the right strap clasp was bent a little from a babysitting gig she did a month ago, and thus was prone to slipping off the button. Kim normally alleviated this by going the one-strap route.

Kim went through her drawers to accessorize the outfits before leaving with her family to head to Bueno Nacho to meet with Ron.

(7:30pm)

Ashley A, along with Ashley B, Hope, and Amanda, arrived at the garage over at the Rockwaller house. Aside from Ashley A doing up one of the overall straps earlier, none of the other girls made changes to their bib-down overalls.

"Can you try and call her to see if Bonnie's home?" Hope asked.

"She texted me 15 minutes ago and said that she was finishing up ballet practice." Amanda replied. Bonnie usually had ballet practice once a week on Wednesdays. "She should be at the house soon."

Veronica then opened the front door.

"Why, hello, girls! Would you like to come in? It's getting a bit cold outside." she asked.

"Sure thing, Mrs. Rockwaller." Ashley B replied with a smile. The girls went inside the Rockwaller house.

"Would you like anything to eat or drink?" Veronica asked.

"Yeah, some cookies and milk would be good." Ashley A replied, "Since Ashley T isn't here, of course."

The other girls followed behind Veronica into the house.

"Is there anyone else here?" Hope asked.

"Just Jonnie." Veronica replied, referring to the youngest member of the Rockwaller family. "Donnie's at the station right now and Connie and Lonnie are out of town."

Veronica then heard another motor from the thick walls of the house.

"That must be Bonnie!" she giggled while putting the plate of cookies and pitcher of milk on the kitchen table.

"How did you know?" Amanda asked.

"Let's just say us mothers have a sixth sense about things!" Veronica said with a smile.

Bonnie came through the front door, exhausted. The only change she made to the undone overall outfit was that she was not exposing the rim of her CB boxers. She was holding a large tote bag containing her ballet costume. The brunette quickly collapsed on the couch.

"Aww...did Bonnie have a hard day at ballet?" Veronica questioned.

"Don't even ask, Mother." Bonnie muttered. "Stupid ballet teacher kept us there longer than normal."

"You do have some company." Veronica giggled, "Some of your friends are here!"

Bonnie's exhausted look turned to that of glee.

"Where are they?"

"In the kitchen. I gave them some freshly-baked cookies from the oven and milk."

"I could go for some right now."

Bonnie went into the kitchen and saw the four girls there, eating the cookies.

"Hey, my girls. I thought you would come a bit later than usual." she said.

"We decided to arrive a bit earlier, hoping you would be here." Ashley B replied.

"Yeah. We got a few...important matters...to tend to." Ashley A insisted, winking at Bonnie.

Bonnie then remembered what she meant earlier, "Oh right, I know what you mean!"

Veronica giggled, "You girls go ahead and talk about cute boys and fashion! I'll be in the master bedroom waiting for Donnie!" She headed towards the hallway.

Seeing that the coast was clear, Bonnie said to the other girls. "Head to my bedroom after you finish the cookies."

The other girls nodded their heads in agreement.

[rezqwr]

Hi! Hi! I saw your message about the inbox that you had requested and am willing to do the matchups! For my fandom, I would like a Jjk matchup just like how you requested. Let’s start with the basic:

Pronouns: she /her

Preferably a male?

Personality: I am an INTJ Slytherclaw, Aquarius and a Type 6 when it comes to anagrams. I am a huge overthinker and stress a lot with anxiety. People tell me that I can be blunt which results in people thinking that I can be cold but in reality I try to be a kind person when it is needed. I am a realist and many consider me to be intelligent, often asking me to help with their work. I’m incredibly passionate about things I like to do and have a thirst to know everyone’s opinions as I feel that if someone is left out. I’m a creative person but sometimes my brain just goes blank, I hate when it does. I sometimes follow the rules and can be serious if I wish to be but normally I like to goof off and break rules, adrenaline rushing through my body is just a different feeling I can’t explain. I have a really dry sense of humour that usually is a mix of sarcasm, fandom jokes or self degrading jokes. I’m not that good at describing personality but here are a few kins if it is helpful : Navier, Mikasa, Regulus Black, Annabeth, Shinobu, Shoko ( Jjk), etc.

Looks: I’m slightly chubby and have a pear body shape. Upon seeing me, many people point out my eyes which are hazel with slight flecks of many colours such as green and amber being the prominent ones. I have a button nose and thin heart shaped lips. My face is round and my eye shape is almond. I am approximately 5’3. Two small moles are fixated on my right cheek and underneath my lip. My clothing style tends to be anything comfortable and classy. I prefer to wear black and colours that are darker, you will never find me wearing orange or neon colours. My clothing always consists of a dress of some sort. 

Likes: Chocolate, Anime, Reading, Drawing, Strawberries, Smell of Rain, Sleeping, Being the Best, Baking, Daydreaming, Murder Mysteries, Romance , Name hunting, Pinterest and Flower Languages.

Dislike: Loud noises, Jerks, Slow Walkers, Insects, Studying, Fake People, Self-pity, Getting below 90% in a test, Coffee, Snow and the feeling where your brain is blank and can’t tell what you feel like.

Love Language: Physical Touch and Quality Time

I hope this is enough information.

i match you with…

yuuta okkotsu!

okay first of all i feel like your energies would work really well together! you tend to be a bit more blunt, whereas he would tiptoe around the subject

he would love your creative side! even when you get a bit of a block, he would always try to either inspire you with stories, or try to get your mind off of what’s upsetting you

you would’ve made him feel welcomed when he first arrived at jujutsu high, including him in conversations & trying to gauge his perspective

he absolutely would have been blushing the whole times and barely could have made eye contact ahejdhejej

he knows that you don’t like bugs, so he would always take them outside, even when you’re insisting that he kills them

i feel like you’d be really good friends with maki, too! you give me strong maki vibes, so i feel like you two would really get along

honestly all of the second years, panda would give you piggy back rides & inumaki would joke around with you all of the time

in your first year, it would have been so obvious that yuuta had a crush on you (which may or may not have caused some problems with rika; maki is totally rallying for you and has threatened to exorcise her on the dl)

he would learn flower language for you and start giving you them as a way of flirting before you got together

he also proceeds to send your flowers when he’s abroad in second year!

you & yuuta have baking dates & he loves making chocolate covered strawberries with you!!! he would try to draw your face on the strawberry!! it was a really bad drawing, but it’s the thought that counts!!!!

he knows that you don’t need it but i feel like he would be so protective over you?? especially after shibuya, he always has an arm around you/is touching you in some way 😭

nobara absolutely idolizes you & your style, she wants you to take her shopping on off days

overall, you fit in very well with everyone & you’ve stolen yuuta’s heart (he has no intention of trying to get it back)

[russet-writing]

War Horns & Well Wishes

Fantasy, eventual enemies to lovers, slowburn

Word Count: 587

»»

"This world... is diseased." Admiral Yahlar whispers darkly, surveying the bloody battle raging below- One which he orchestrated... one which he would never have to fight. Not when he is housed safely in this airship, worlds away from the carnage, flying above the storm with front row seats. His gaze slides over to the Vesperian noble who stands stiffly at his side: Haspur, High Lord of the Wasps, right hand man to the Queen herself- An alliance that would have sent Yahlar's ancestors rolling in their graves. Standing so close, even he could feel that innate hostility manifesting as a sharp prickle on the back of his neck.

He relishes that feeling.

"So it is..." The Vesper replies after a moment, his voice laced with that faint 'bzzz'-ing noise like a hive of insects swarming in the cavity of his chest. Haspur had always been a star example of what the waspfolk are: Proper, brooding and controlled. Even now, when it was just the two of them in the lounge cabin, his posture is so rigid. His iridescent wings are tucked primly behind him, pupil-less eyes fixed somewhere outside of the window- respectfully avoiding eye contact, as is their custom. There were times when Yahlar's irritation would boil over and he wanted nothing more than to grab him by the jaw and force the wasp Lord to look him in the eye.

"Festering." Haspur concludes.

The Admiral’s tail swishes idly as he turns his gaze away again. "Festering... like an open wound." He murmurs. He cannot help the way his lips quirk into a snarl, fangs tearing apart each word he speaks. "Humanity is a gash on this planet- Their society, their doctrines, their Gods... all of it. Disease." Clawed fingers tighten on the railing, knuckles whitening.

Lord Haspur shoots a small glance in the dark elf’s direction, mandibles clicking quietly.

"You needn't get so worked up, Admiral. Not anymore. Our men are slaughtering them like swine- It is only a matter of time until their kingdoms fall..." His tone is quiet and direct, though Yahlar can tell he is trying to be reassuring... which he wasn’t very good at. The words help to settle him nonetheless. The Admiral lets out a slow breath, forcing the tension from his hands and shoulders to go with it. His gaze drifts back over to Haspur, studying his insect-like profile… the twitching antennae sticking out from his black hair.

He breaks the long silence with a whisper, "And when they do...? What will become of this world, Lord Haspur?" The name rolls off his tongue like it was a delicacy, something to be cherished and tasted. Now it was the Vesper's turn to be silent. Yahlar listened to the steady thrumming of the coal-fired engines, the dying screams of humans riding on gusts of wind.

Then, equally as softly, "I should hope.... that perhaps it can heal. Things could go back to how they once were so long ago. Before..." He trails off but Yahlar understands exactly what he means: Before. Before the wars. Before the destruction... Where everyone lived without fear- A time Yahlar and Haspur had never been alive to experience, born of bloodshed and turmoil. And there was something achingly wistful in those words that caught the Admiral by surprise. He had never thought he would hear such gentle words from the Vesper's stoic tongue. It was oddly pleasant...

Yahlar frowns and turns his attention back to the slaughter below. He silently hopes that Haspur is right.

[cloudbattrolls]

Eat Your Young

Gallen | Suunaq Industrial Complex | Present Night

A sprawling industrial complex covered the plain, its buildings and roads nearly equaling the size of a small town.

It had stood there longer than some of the actual settlements in the surrounding area, growing piece by piece over several millennia. Power plants and offices jostled for space, interspersed with streets that had been paved and patched more times than anyone could count. Everything was kept in a state of high repair; the finest quality droids maintained the infrastructure, though there were no imperial drones to be seen. 

Ever since its earliest nights, the complex had been filled white butterflies that did not seem to feed from or pollinate any flowers; not that there were many to be found in such a place. Any attempts to catch and study them ended in the insects dissolving to nothing, so trolls let them be.

Most didn’t have the time or energy to wonder about what little wildlife surrounded them to begin with. 

For marked over each of the complex’s entrances, on the identification cards of all the trolls who worked in that place, was the jade symbol of QPIN - each and every troll there in the corporation-gang’s debt. 

Debts paid - in part - by blood. 

Debts paid to one of the Queenpin’s right-hand executives, Inshii Suunaq.

—

Three tall figures gathered under the glare of a street lamp, all coming from different directions. 

A woman, hourglass-shaped with a band covering her eyes and a cowgirl hat on her head, dressed in a crop top and shorts. A man, broad and powerfully built, wearing only knee-length shorts and no shirt. A person dressed in a beautiful violet sherwani, the tallest of all, wide with soft roundness instead of the man’s dense bulk. 

The woman spoke first as they faced each other on the sidewalk, the night air quiet around them. 

“Damn, I hate this place.” Rhyssa complained, hands on her hips. “I can’t even see it proper and I still hate it. Would it kill ya to decorate a bit, Shii? The vibes are just awful.”

“I don’t have time for excessive frivolity.” Responded the false violet in a deadpan as they led the other two away. “Trolls can put up ornamentation if they like; I don’t forbid them. Excessive levels of depression are unproductive.”

Rhyssa groaned as she followed, her boots’ spurs jingling softly. “Sugar, you’ve been contributin’ to depression in trolls for a long time without tryin’. I love you, but ya are kind of a robot when it comes to fixin’ a place up.” 

Gallen hung back a few steps as the three of them made their way down the sidewalk, letting the other two banter. He was grateful he couldn’t speak, and that he likely wouldn’t be asked to sign very much, or type; if his siblings picked up on his dread, everything was over.

Everything might still be over if he couldn’t carry out the plan Klirro and Tuuya had concocted for him. All his isopods wriggled anxiously in his skin, though he tried not to let it show. 

Rhyssa hung back, head tilted, the wasps fluttering around her to serve as her eyes buzzing in concern.

“What’s eatin’ ya, Gal?”

Oops.

I don’t know how things are going to be from now on, he signed honestly. 

I hope this makes mother better, but what if it makes her worse? What will we do? How can we care for her? For once, I wish we were more like trolls. Trolls know how to tend to their lusii and quadrants. 

All we were ever meant to do was serve her. 

We were never taught anything else. Unlike Lleios, we weren’t given the ability to learn much beyond what we were made to do.

I think she did that on purpose, he signed, suddenly angry as he had the thought, eyes narrowing, gestures sharper. I think she wanted to keep us dependent. 

She let me learn about religion, she let me watch trolls come to my altar all those sweeps, but she knew I could never truly understand them. 

Only Lleios could.

Gallen looked at Rhyssa, whose hand touched her mouth in shock at his words, and he saw that Inshii had stopped walking, looking back at the pair of them as their fins flicked.

The isopod swarm folded his broad arms, blue eyes hard. He wasn’t backing down. 

Even if it weren’t for the mission, even if Klirro had never found him, even if he had wound up killing Tuuya after all - these doubts had brewed for centuries, and he was done ignoring his problems.

“Gal! What’s all this hullabaloo?” Rhyssa protested, her own hands flapping in distress as she buzzed with worry. “Where’d this come from all of a sudden, huh? You’ve never - never said a blessed thing - ”

“Now is not the time for such topics.” Cut in Inshii, hard enough that their sister’s hands dropped and her buzzing quieted. She folded her arms, sullenly silent, and Gallen stared the butterfly swarm down, their violet eyes hard.

“Gallen…we will discuss this later.” His oldest sibling’s tone held a practiced neutrality, one he knew was barely holding back anger. Their fins twitched almost imperceptibly, but he caught it.

“Mother needs us now, and she needs us united.”

As if they’d been properly united for sweeps. As if they’d really acted together since Lleios had died.

Killed by a troll, of all things. A troll they had loved. A troll who betrayed them…yet they had wanted him to, so they could die.

Gallen’s fists clenched at the way his youngest sibling had chosen to leave the rest of them behind. If they hadn’t done that, none of this would have happened. 

The cold pavement cut his bare feet repeatedly, as it usually did. What did he care? He regenerated his skin nigh instantly, barely noticing as the three swarms drew closer to Inshii’s laboratory.

The thick glass doors slid open with a slight hiss as the false violet led the way in after flashing their ID to a scanner, barely making any sound despite their size. Gallen squinted as they walked into the harsh lighting and gray-white walls and floors, the smell of disinfectant prominent.

There were a few trolls to be seen, but most of Inshii’s staff here were highly specialized robots. The ones that were present shied away from the trio automatically. There wasn’t any fear on their faces or in their movements; they did it instinctively, knowing better than to be close.

“Can we at least eat before this?” Commented Rhyssa, slightly impatient. “I’m assumin’ those ain’t snacks, and I’m peckish.”

“Obviously those aren’t snacks.” Said Inshii in a slightly weary tone of voice. “Food doesn’t work in the laboratory. If you knew anything about science you’d understand just how intensive and time consuming this process has been to replicate. I’ve needed my finest staff on this and had to hire a few extras, which is not kind to my payroll.”

“Ooh, lemme play ya a song on m’banjo, saddest one in the history of the empire, Shishi.” Said Rhyssa, singsong and mocking, actually taking out her instrument as if she was about to start strumming.

Inshii rolled their eyes and ignored her, so Rhyssa pouted and put it away. 

Gallen stopped and looked around, not in any hurry to get to what came next. He put his hands in his shorts’ pockets, feeling for the hundredth time that the vial of cloudy liquid was still there. 

“Come on.” Called Inshii impatiently. “You’d think we were dragging you to an atheist convention.”

He opened his mouth to huff silently, not wanting to let himself feel amused, and kept walking.

He couldn’t. He had to…he had to…

Gallen twisted inside, hundreds of small legs wriggling and grasping at each other. 

He followed his oldest sibling, just like he always had for millennia. 

Obedient Gallen. Peaceable Gallen.

Even before mother had taken his tongue, he’d always been like that.

Inshii led him and Rhyssa down a narrow hallway, their precise steps echoing in the near-silence. The faint buzz of electric illumination was the only sound.

Then the lights flickered for a second.

Gallen blinked, looking at his sibling inquiringly. Inshii sighed, their brightly colored fins flicking. 

“That’s how much power this has taken. We have backup generators, more than enough…but that’s happened plenty of times over the past few perigees. All Lifeweaver had to do was make a troll body that could meld with a swarm. I’ve had to achieve far more than that.”

“What d’ya mean?” Rhyssa asked, sounding genuinely curious as she ran a finger through her shoulder-length hair.

Inshii’s eyebrows raised in mild surprise, but they stopped, facing their sister with their arms crossed.

“When Mother fell and fused with a mother grub, she became undead. Etuuya was alive when they were merged with Lleios’s remains, integrated over multiple operations so they wouldn’t die of shock or blood loss. 

I don’t have that luxury; she’s weak and unstable enough that if I fail now, I might not be able to try again and keep her mind intact. 

She can’t be killed…but suffering eternally in that carcass of a body, her mind slipping more and more until she forgets us all? She might wish she was dead.” The butterfly swarm said bluntly.

Rhyssa had taken her hat off to hold it, as a gesture of respect. Gallen bowed his head to go along with her, and so he could compose himself.

Klirro was right. Tuuya was right. Everything Inshii said confirmed it.

If he could do this, even with the hell that would come of it, everything would get better.

His hands shook as Rhyssa put her hat back on.

Inshii’s face softened slightly, an unusual sight.

“Don’t worry, Gallen.” They said in a marginally warmer tone, as caring as they had been capable of since the ten had died all those sweeps ago.

“I’ve accounted for everything; I will not fail. She’ll finally be well again.”

No, they hadn’t accounted for everything. They had no idea what their little brother had in his pocket. A substance modeled from the same scientific notes Inshii had used for this project. 

Another one of Rhomox Vannyn’s discoveries.

Inshii kept walking a little longer, then stopped in front of a plain gray, unmarked door, flashing their ID card at a scanner once more.

Gallen would have whistled if he could, so instead it was tuneless air blown through his lips as he walked inside, and Rhyssa herself made a softly impressed ‘aaah.’

Inshii looked a bit smug, despite their sibling’s frequent insistence that they didn’t indulge in such trollish things.

The space was vast, a tangle of pipes, vats, and scientific equipment whose names the isopod swarm couldn’t even begin to guess at. Dials all over the room glowed from within, and somewhere a machine beeped softly in long intervals. 

Long hair flowing as they moved more quickly, the false seadweller walked over to the largest vat of all, one taller than their nearly eight foot height, horns aside.

Gallen knew, with a sudden surge of fear, that that was it.

Rhyssa turned completely toward it as well, the wasps she used to see beating their wings frantically as they hovered over her shoulders.

Inshii looked at the various readout screens on the vat and what they saw must’ve pleased his oldest sibling because they nodded and took out a beautiful old glass container shaped like a chrysalis. The glass shone jade and white where it was not clear.

Gallen shuddered as he saw several of his mother’s green flukes wriggling within. Just like the one that had taken over Tuuya.

Wait.

He signed a question.

Isn’t that - 

“Vassiq’s work, one of the last she ever made.” Said Inshii quietly, holding the container with reverence. “One of the few we have left.” 

Gallen couldn’t cry as trolls did. He had no heart. 

Still he trembled, isopods pressing against his skin.

Vassiq. The fly. Dead because she’d tried to kill Ozryel with the other ten, her eggshell destroyed and her corpse burned. Dead because she’d just wanted to be free. 

She’d been the best artisan of them all.

How could Inshii stand there and use their sister’s work to hold her killer? 

Rhyssa was unusually still, even her wings beating slowly from the parts she used as eyes. 

“Will you offer us a prayer, Gallen?” Inshii asked, solemn.

He looked at them in shock, his face rippling in surprise. Inshii had never thought much of religion.

He wished he had incense to light, an altar to kneel by by. He wished he could believe there was anything holy about what they were about to do.

Still he closed his eyes and put a hand to his chest. 

He prayed Inshii was wrong, that his mother could be laid to rest after all.

He prayed whatever afterlife she went to was a kind one. A peaceful one.

He prayed his hands would not falter as he did to her what Rhomox Vannyn had done to Lleios. Wipe away the mind, leave the body behind.

Gallen hoped so hard for all of this that he hurt, and then his hand dropped from his chest. He nodded at Inshii, glad he couldn’t speak.

Rhyssa sniffed. With no tears to shed, she tugged at the band covering her wasp-filled sockets instead.

“I hope this works.” She mumbled. “It’ll be like old times. When we were all together, and everythin’ was perfect.”

Everything had never been perfect. Their siblings would still be dead. Ozryel had driven them to desperation when they were alive, had refused to listen when they’d tried to reason with her.

Gallen regretted not helping them. Not taking a side. If he had…

If he had, it probably wouldn’t have made a difference. 

Nothing he’d done for his family ever had.

Inshii pressed a button, and the lid of the vat slid back with a faint sliding noise, impressively quiet for how large it was.

He could smell it now. The organic stench of nutrient-rich solution used to grow facsimile bodies.

Inshii stepped onto a ladder bolted to the side of the vat and he held up a hand. They raised their eyebrows, fins flicking.

He signed, Can I go up after you?

“Don’t be silly, Gallen.” Inshii said, tongue clicking. “There’s no space. I’ll bring her down so we can witness her awakening. It will likely take a minute or so.”

Good. That was all he needed. 

He nodded to show he understood.

Inshii went up the ladder, their sherwani rippling from their movement. He - and Rhyssa - watched them intently. 

What would their sibling bring down? What body had they made for Ozryel?

Though he writhed with nervousness, resignation settling heavy into his chitin, Gallen couldn’t help but be curious. He’d known her current shape for so long, it was difficult to imagine her in another. 

He and his sister watched as Inshii took a fluke out of the glass container…and used their other hand - now in a rubber glove - to gently pick up a troll-shaped body. Viscous drops of amber fluid slowly dribbled off of it. 

The view was partially blocked by their sibling, but Gallen could see the body’s eyes were closed, that it had long white hair and pale horns that resembled his mother’s. 

They moved their arm. He could only assume they were putting the fluke in.

No noise. Nothing. 

Inshii carried the body down in both arms, container put back in their sylladex, its - her - eyes still closed. She didn’t move.

Vial in his hand, Gallen lunged.

Rhyssa cried out and Inshii barked an order to stop. Neither moved quickly enough to stop him as he forced the contents down Ozryel’s throat.

Then his sister tackled him to the hard floor, snarling and buzzing as she swore and stung him over and over, ripping through his skin to the isopods beneath. 

Gallen did not fight back even as dozens of his isopods thrashed and died. He lay there, letting her wound him, staring up at the pale ceiling and the dark pipes running along it.

He wondered if he was about to wake up in his eggshell, a sparse few isopods once more.

“Stop.” Inshii’s clipped voice said through his haze of pain. “Let mother handle him. The serum is working.”

Rhyssa gasped in relief and Gallen’s hopes sank in dread as he saw his mother’s pale gray fingertips moving, noticed the syringe in Inshii’s hand as they gave him a narrow-eyed violet stare.

“I don’t know why you’ve done this, but I can guess. You’ve betrayed us, gone over to Tuuya and their allies. I’d ask you why…but I don’t think I care.”

Feebly, Gallen tried to use his arms to sign an answer, but Rhyssa stung them and they collapsed into dying isopods.

His mother’s eyes flickered and opened, glowing a solid, brilliant green. Shorter than all of them, slim and almost petite, she vaulted out of her oldest child’s arms to land on the floor with a thud, her feet bare. Her only clothing was a pale teal dress, and she still dripped fluid on the floor as she stepped over to him. The pincers at the edges of her lips snapped in fury as her eyes shone with rage and delight.

“My only son.” She said, with a dry and raspy voice, different yet unmistakably familiar, unused to speaking aloud. “My last son. Why do you turn on me? The only mother you’ve ever had?”

Her tone was gently chiding, almost fond, but Gallen knew that meant nothing.

He spoke in the silent language of swarms, isopods forming shapes and symbols that all of his family read without comment.

“So misguided.” His mother said, still soft. “It isn’t your fault. You were tricked. You forget your siblings’ cruelty. They were unkind to you too.”

Gallen shook his head. She was lying. He had to remember she was lying.

Ozryel clicked her tongue.

“You’ve been very bad. You need a time-out.”

She knelt down next to him and put a hand to his chest. Right where he had when he’d prayed earlier.

Green flukes came out of her wrist, squirming over his remaining isopods to secrete liquid that dissolved him, segment by segment, leg by leg. He soundlessly screamed in agony, bereft of the tongue she had taken so long ago. The voice she’d silenced for the crime of not taking a side.

“Leave one.” Said Inshii, voice hard. “He can stay here. Otherwise who knows where he’ll go when he comes back in the cavern.”

Rhyssa snarled. “Yeah, what Shii said. We can’t let him outta our sight.”

“You don’t give me orders, children.” Murmured Ozryel in a tone of saccharine warning. “I’ll concede the butterfly is right this time. Just mind your tone, or I might think you intend to join your brother.”

Rhyssa opened her mouth, and as Gallen’s troll eyes melted away, he could see the hurt on his sister’s face before she closed it again.

In less than a minute, there was only one of him. A single white isopod, shivering as his mother picked him up in one hand. Helpless to resist her firm grip, she squeezed him so hard he nearly cracked, his legs struggling against her cold hand.

She leaned in to whisper so he could hear.

“Next time I won’t be so generous.”

His vision in this state was too poor to grasp what happened around him, but the next thing he knew, Gallen was locked in a dark, airless box with needles puncturing him all over his body. 

He couldn’t move. Couldn’t see, or hear, or feel anything but pain and constriction.

The isopod prayed.

He prayed for the people he had failed so terribly.

He wished with everything he had that his mother would finally die. 

—

Ozryel patted the box she had locked her son in, with a soft, needle-fanged smile, then set it aside.

Pausing, concentrating, she clenched her fists and there came a great cracking of bone, a sliding and warping of flesh as wings sprung from her back. Insectoid, yet shaped as if they were feathered, they shone with iridescent hints of rainbow color.

“Fly with me, children. We make for Hanhai.”

Rhyssa scratched her head.

“The desert? What d’ya want there? Thought we were goin’ after Tuuya and their lot.”

Inshii’s eyes also narrowed, then their expression cleared.

“Ah. Their daughter’s cavern.”

Ozryel gave her oldest child a feral smile.

“Kotenkha’s as well. One of her spawn fought me in the second worm’s body, allowing them to escape…it is long past time I gave that bloodline their due.”

The mother of swarms stepped outside the building, squinting as her eyes adjusted to the starlight she had not seen in over four thousand sweeps.

Ever since a wretched jade woman with a komondor lusus had shot her out of the sky.

[steadydizzydreamer]

A box full of loving praise

Starts in October of 1964

For the past two months, June would arrive to school with excitement flowering within her. Because for the past two months, when she had opened her locker. She would find that someone had slid a square inch piece of paper in it.

She could never forget the first note he left for her. It read ."I wish we had more classes together. I sneak glances your way but I can't dare to face you. My eyes can't help but follow you as you drift down the hall. Words can't describe how much joy you bring to me."

She thought, what the hell? Why wasn't it addressed to anyone? To someone else it might've seemed a little stalkerish. June didn't care that she should probably be a lot more cautious. Having no friends at school anyway she figured she might as well look forward to something at school.

With every passing day, the notes steadily got more heavy on praising her beauty. Every time she opened her locker in the morning it was like a butterfly garden was steadily growing inside her.

Slowly filling her up with the fluttering insects.

Maybe she had become an addict. Addicted to the passion in which someone poured into a small note. Every time June got a note she brought it home, where she put in a box. Each note planted seedlings of hope somewhere in her brain. Convincing her more and more each day that this person was genuinely devoting their time into making her day. It was almost enough to drive her insane. June had been denied affection her whole life. So it turned into a drug.

After a month she decided to start writing back. At the end of each day, she taped a small piece of paper to the bottom of one of the slots in her locker. Every time she did this she wrote the same thing.

"Thank you, I'm really excited to find out who has me blushing like this so early in the morning. I don't deserve this I would love to return the favor someday." She always drew a heart at the bottom. Sometimes even spraying her perfume on it. Hoping he would notice, or care.

Everyday the person took her note. But they never signed their name.

Today June went in early to school. Her chemistry teacher had asked all of her students to come in early if they needed to study before school.

Feeling stupid, she raised her hand. Halfway through the study session she felt the need to go to the bathroom.

June rushed out into the hall as she was still thinking obsessively about how stupid she had been because she hadn't gone to the bathroom earlier.

But all of that suddenly didn't matter. Because she looked up from the ground and a lump rose in her throat. Someone was at her locker. A big mess of blond hair turned to face her. Bright eyes widened underneath the mass of curls.

The person's hand was in front of one of slots. After they noticed June it shot down quickly. It was a boy.

As soon as he locked eyes with her he dashed down the hall. June followed, chasing the drug she had been deprived of for two months. She desperately wanted to know who this boy was.

He turned the corner. Following, she was met with the boy standing right in front of her.

He was facing away from June as she rounded the corner.

When she nearly knocked him over, someone said, "What are you two so early for?" It was the head master. June and the boy stood there looking at him. "Well?"

"My parents couldn't get me to school unless they took me early, sir." The boy said politely. The headmaster turned to her.

Flustered June croaked, "I'm doing an early study session with Mrs. Blackly. Sir." Gripping her hands together so tight her knuckles had turned white. She grabbed the boys wrist. Knowing the headmaster couldn't see. She finally trapped him.

"Alright, Robert hurry back to class now. No funny business." June held back a giggle. There was no way people actually talk like that, she thought in amusement. "Mrs. Wood hurry back to class." With that he walked off and turned the corner.

(Smallest chapter)

[mystris-bug-academy]

"Fae"

Entomology Club Leader, He/Him, bisexual, Butterfly..?

(Oh my god I'm so goofy. I didn't know how to do the view more thing)

Facts about Fae

♤~ His "wings" are made of birds wing bones and butterflies

♡~ He doesn't talk much, only muttering one word responses most of the time

◇~ People wonder if he's really a bug at all...

♧~ Most of all the people in Hollow Bark High are either intimidated by him or pity him

☆~ Obsessed with the idea of something, "beautiful"

♤~ He spends most of his time in his club room, most of the people who join his club are either there out of pity or just want to screw around on their phones. (No teacher wants to go to the entomology room)

♡~ Doesn't know how to show that he likes someone (He tried giving Orchid butterfly wings....Orchid tries to avoid him now)

◇~ He has some lung and other respiratory issues, causing him to wear that gas mask (he could wear a regular oxygen mask, but he likes to be edgy)

♧~ He has crazy nightmares and sleep paralysis

☆~ He can't participate in most P.E. activities, most butterflies or flying insects have to participate in some form of P.E. flying, but he can't. Most of the time, he has to sit in some boring health class alone.

Grades

♤~ Watches soap cutting and slime making videos during class

♡~ He also has an interest in taxidermy, he keeps the taxidermied bodies of small animals in his club room.

Math - C

English - D

Science - A

Social studies - B

P.E. - N/A

What others think of him

Ceni- "I feel bad for the guy, I don't even know why he's in this school.."

Mona- "He's– Um– Oh jeez! It's just so disturbing seeing all those dead butterflies on him! It's hard being nice to him! Even for me!"

Poly- "What can I say? I feel bad for him. He walks around with those wings. It's cool, but...Mona doesn't seem to like it"

"Lady"- "Don't get me started on that psycho! He walks around campus with dead butterflies on him! That's definitely against the rules! And probably illegal!"

Latro- "Every time I see him, I feel quesy...And I've eaten candy from the ground before!"

Orchid- "Oh god... Not him. I wish he'd just leave me alone.."

Honey- "Eugh...I feel sick every time I go into his club room, the walls are plastered with dead bugs..."

Facts about...Agh, forget it. Facts about taxidermy.

(What? Of course, we know what he is...We just...Uhhhhhh–)

♤~Taxidermy is the art of preserving an animal's body by mounting or stuffing, for the purpose of display or study.

♡~ Early Taxidermy mounts were stuffed with sawdust and rags

◇~ When platypus were discovered, people thought they were crude taxidermy

♧~ King Louis XV had a taxidermized rhino

☆~ The word "taxidermy" is derived from the Greek words "arrangement" and "skin," meaning taxidermy translates to "Arrangement of skin"

♤~ Snakes are the hardest animak to taxidermy because of their complex musculature. When tanning snakeskin it loses its pigment causing taxidermists to pain every scale.

The last siller is done!!! Get ready for the shenanigans!!

[pro-anomalocaris]

@milkyautism My price is basically just praise, tbh. So, continuing on:

"Aislin," Bruin said, looking from his younger sibling to the confused mortal behind them, "tell me you didn't just bring home a human."

"I did," they sighed, shrugging a bit as if to say 'what can you do', as if this wasn't their decision.

"Ais, I trusted you. You're supposed to be the reasonable one." He pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling as the human squinted at him through cracked glasses. "Did he catch you? Is that why you brought him here?"

"Oh, no, my glasses got broken when Mark shoved me down the stairs," the human supplied. Going off of his voice, he was a teenager, though between the massive hoodie he was drowning in and his trying unsuccessfully to hide behind Aisling, it was hard to tell anything more exact. "I don't try and catch fairies. I didn't know you were a thing, actually. I'd hoped you were, but I tried making a deal with fairies for protection five or six times before and nothing ever happened, so... this was neat, but not really planned." He shrugged, smiling sunnily despite the bruise on his right cheek just below his eye. "Sorry for barging in like this."

"Bruin's not actually mad," Aisling told their human companion. To their brother, they added, "He's just staying a bit. I couldn't leave him in the metal box they'd shoved him in."

Bruin paused, staring at his younger sibling in confusion. The human had wandered over to a berry bush and was sketching the berries' likeness in a little notebook he'd carried along with him in his pocket. When he knelt to do so, the skinniness of his knees poking through the holes in his jeans became readily apparent.

"Did they put him in a cage or something?" he asked uneasily. "Wait, why can he tell those are berries? The enchantment's supposed to make them look like his favorite fruit."

"I have total tritanopic colorblindness," the young human explained, squinting through his cracked glasses. "Basically, to see colors, humans have to have three cones inside in their eyes, and I'm missing one, so... um, sorry. I didn't mean to mess up your magic. It looks cool as it is, really! I like nature. I wish I could be a botanist. Or an artist, but, well. You need to see colors for that."

"Human Joseph is not well-liked by his peers," Aisling informed their brother, "and that has led to some mistreatment."

Their brother's nose crinkled. "Aisling, it's not our way to meddle in affairs that should be handled by a family-"

"Sorry," Joseph apologized, still diligently sketching, "if I'd known that I wouldn't have mentioned not having a family. But you can put me back and it's cool, I swear I won't be weird about it. Just let me finish this one drawing? Please? I've never seen berries with facets before. They're like little gemstones."

"He can't lie. I gave him my fae weaknesses in exchange for his freedom." They looked at the human, then at their brother. "The boy thinks I did him a favor giving him those. He's not having a nice go of things, Bruin."

"We're not keeping him. You know what happens when someone keeps a human, it always ends in trouble-"

"They put him in a cage, brother."

Any answer Bruin could have had was delayed by a cooing sound coming from Joseph. As the two fae watched, he held out his hands and gently whispered encouraging words to a glittering caterpillar as it crawled onto him. He held the small insect in his hands and looked at the tiny, wiggling form with obvious delight. The bruises, broken glasses and time spent in a cage might as well have been forgotten for all he cared. In a quiet, gentle voice, the human listed plants from his world he wished he could give the 'lil guy', as he dubbed the insect, so it could grow big and strong.

"Are there fairy entomologists?" he asked them brightly, and, upon getting blank stares, explained the term. "You know, people who study bugs and how they live and how they impact the environment. If I could be an entomologist I would but I don't have the money to study that, plus I'm not old enough."

"No, we don't have those," Aisling said, then smiled as Joseph turned to study the caterpillar with renewed interest. "I thought humans didn't like bugs?"

"Eh. They would if they gave them a chance," the teenager said, watching the glittering creature as if it were a puppy or a kitten. "I've never minded bugs. They do a lot for the world, and all they ask for in return is good food and not getting stepped on. Kind of like-" He paused, apparently realizing that lack of ability to lie was still in effect. "Like, um. Some people. You know?"

Bruin found he couldn't look at the human's earnest green eyes any longer. He turned to his sibling, who was looking at him with expectant gray ones. Biting his lip, he looked skyward, taking a moment to contemplate his options. Oh, this was going to be hard to explain later if he gave in. But humans were not a gentle folk, and this one was a poor fit for their world. Joseph would not be happy there, even if he were free from the cage.

"Please," Aisling said softly, tugging on their brother's sleeve. "He's just a wee thing. He won't be any trouble."

"...you know the rest of the family won't be so easily persuaded, Ais." They nodded. "You know this can only be temporary. And even if the family wished otherwise, we can't keep him forever without approval of the Court." They nodded again, still gripping their older brother's sleeve, face tense. "You know... ugh, stop it. Stop giving me that look. Alright, already. We can keep him."

Bruin was rocked on his heels by the force of his younger sibling hugging him, repeating 'thank you' so many times the words ran together into a blur of sounds. Over their head, he looked at the human, who was holding the caterpillar in one hand and drawing its' likeness in his notebook with the other. Usually, humans looking at the fairy world without its' fae glamour on found it disappointing. This one seemed content as could be simply to have a patch of dirt to observe where he could sit, unbothered and untouched.

He still didn't expect this to go well long-term. But they could keep Joseph for the night, at least.

Some bullies shoved you into a locker the other week, and you made a deal with a fairy, your humanity for your freedom. Now you have an allergy to cold iron and an inability to lie.

[stxrmnight]

Birth and Choices of Birth Family

Since Ala Mhigo fell in 1557, and I want Nemi to be 26 for events of Shadowbringers at least, or more or less, her birth year would be 1553, which would make her 4 by the time. The date is decided to be the 19th of the First Astral Moon or January, making her a Capricorn-Sagitarius border child since both match her and I can't decide.

Nemi was born in the home of two Duskwight Elezen in what would later be known as Bittermill. They had her in their late 20s hoping to have a big family, but the Garlean invasion stopped that.

Zimera Norxares

A migrant from Tural, bold and eager to hone her Goldsmithing crafts with direct work on the minerals and precious stones from other regions. Traveling from west to east, she reached Ala Mhigo with veritable techniques and tools under her belt. This made her association with a local merchant easier to establish and work away in new commissions, with the course running more sentimental as the forest also enamoured her.

She introduced her daughter in the principles of Goldsmithing almost as soon as she was capable of reading, needing to sush her away from rushing into the step of dealing with actually hot medals. Her vast knowledge served the secluded village to produce works unique enough to live more than mere surviving.

She was a mentor that made other mentors, until a new sickness beat her gravely. It'd come from an insect snuck on a merchant's delivery pouch. Repentant, that merchant provided medicine and a trip for her wish to be buried in her homeland if the worst came to pass. Nemi was only 12 saying goodbye to her forever... presumably.

Meilfer Algosnor

A proud Merchant. He had exchanged armorer hammers for trade when his mentor deemed his hold too unstable to handle the worst risks of the job, but the study gave him a finer tongue to negotiate even against the worst Ul'dahn merchants. To others judged honest he showed great charisma and character that stuck into great friendships. He tried to mitigate himself when a great Goldsmith came to work as tutelage, but that reflected how strong their passion was... A passion he would not let come to harm at the sight of distant blasts and fire.

With all the supplies and goods packed, he set with the elders for these caravans to be sent first through the tunnels they would run away through. Half of the village was evacuated when the Magitek caught up, and he had no choice but to keep running with his infant in her arms. His siblings didn't make it.

And yet, he stealed with the other elders and declared the trade of Bitermill was not over, sending messages to their associates they would be handsomly rewarded with products out of the market's restraints and limits as long as they supported their partnership. It wasn't profit that motivated them solely, but the deep gratitude and respect they held for the man in humbler times.

That sympathy drove some of those associates to start trading with Garleans for greater profits, a fact that Nemi could not stand, but he accepted from the other venues closed and forced by the neutrality of some markets. The advance of Gaius Van Baelsar in Eorzea threatened the trade route, and so many partners had to sadly communicate they couldn't travel over safely. This and the dwindling number of villagers pushed him to contact the only partner in Ala Mhigo who could get them a gig and passage to a safe life admist the occupation. That partner would help them broker a deal of citizenship in exchange for commissions, but it would be brought to an end by the Resistance his very Daughter aided.

Though, this was preferable. Better to restore bonds with the rest of Gyr Abania than to toll away hidden. Once the village's debt to Ala Mhigo was done, maybe he could save enough to send a message to Tural and find out what the last days of his love were like.

Small note: Nemi's mom is purposefully left out to suit a possible, twist in Dawntrail if the expansion enables it. Let's hope for it. Her name, Zimera, is not of elezen convention but derived from one of the female names of the Zenu Indigenous tribe of Colombia. I chose this since Turalense names seem to follow after the Firsts people of Latinoamerica, and I have past past parentage who were Zenu. This is just by distant blood though, not culture, so I'm open to discussion and change if there is a better source than what I found or this isn't best choice. It just felt wrong to use a hispanic name given how Tural is characterized so far (Well, the south anyway)